Local students participate in Christmas initiative

Cape Breton Post

Published: Dec 02, 2016 at midnight

Updated: Oct 02, 2017 at 11:42 a.m.

Inspector Robert Walsh reads a book to students participating in the Shop of the Class event at Mayflower Mall on Thursday. A total of 48 students from the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board took part in the annual event.

SYDNEY - It may only be the start of December, but for many children like Jamie Schulze, Christmas came early on Thursday.

Schulze, a Grade 5 student at Ferrisview Elementary School in North Sydney, was among 48 students from the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board selected to participate in the Shop of the Class initiative.
The annual event started in 2006 in conjunction with the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, the Mayflower Mall and the school board.
Each student is paired with a police office to help them spend a $100 Mayflower Mall gift certificate, in addition to an extra $200 each in shopping money, donated by local businessmen Joe Anthony of A&L Seafoods, Jim Kennedy of Louisbourg Seafood Limited, and John Wilcox of Argen Fisheries.
Schulze was excited about the opportunity to shop at Mayflower Mall.
“I haven’t been here in two years,” said the 10-year-old. “I feel like I’m very lucky to be here because there was only two people picked from my school.”
Sgt. Bill Turner and Const. Owen MacKenzie of the regional police were the founding members of the program. The idea for the event came after a similar one in Halifax called “Cop Shop.”
“It started nine years ago and it’s got bigger and bigger every year,” said Turner. “This year we have 48 kids, which is the highest we ever had.

“We sent home, through the schools, a wish list and between the parents and children they filled out the wish list and we try to fulfill that today and make this day special for the kids.”
Close to 50 police officers participated in the event with the majority volunteering their time for the initiative.
After the students were paired with an officer, they were treated to lunch at the food court, followed by a group picture, a story read by Insp. Robert Walsh, and Christmas crafts, before spending two hours shopping at stores throughout the mall.
Schulze was accompanied through the mall by Const. Chuck Romard. Although Schulze had many items on her wish list, she said she was most excited to shop at Best Buy where she purchased a game and a set of headphones.
Turner said the event is one that’s important to the local police service.
“We are part of the community and as part of the community we have a responsibility to do whatever we can and today we are going to make Christmas a lot better for 48 kids,” he said.
The school board selects the children to participate in the event. It also raises money through the board and that helps with the purchase of door prizes, which each student received, after they completed their shopping tour. Students also received a winter jacket, aside from their spending money.
The students also had a special visit from Santa Claus taking time out of his busy schedule to bring Christmas cheer to the children. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles mascot, Screech, was also in attendance.
jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com